A very extensive and impressively large study has concluded that secondhand smokers are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes than non-smokers, so it means that simply being around avid cigarette users may damage your health more than previously believed.
- Researchers gathered data on 6 million people
- Type 2 diabetes makes up for 90% of diabetes cases
- Over 1 billion people worldwide smoke tobacco
- The risk increases from 21% to 57% depending on the intensity of smokers
- The increased risk remains even years after quitting
Researchers and professors Frank Hu from Harvard University and An Pan from Huazhong University collected data on almost 6 million people in order to gather, investigate and take into account the most in-depth information available to reach their conclusion.
Due to the “high prevalence of smoking in many countries and increasing burden of diabetes worldwide” , they examined the connection between the two conditions that are the cause numerous global deaths worldwide, with diabetes reportedly claiming 1.5 million to 4.9 million each year around the world, and smoking 4.9 million as well, reported back in 2007.
The worrying statistic and the constantly increasing concerns about the population’s health has drawn the lines between the two conditions. Smoking has already been attributed to cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, but now have added another condition to the unfortunate list of possible consequences.
Previous studies have linked smoking to an increased risk of 37% of developing type 2 diabetes, but further analysis by researchers have gathered more accurate data, due to the wide range of participants.
The risk of developing diabetes was heightened by 21% for light smokers, 34% for moderate smokers, and by a whopping 57% for heavy smokers, when compared to those who had never smoked in their lives.
Secondhand smoking, however, has shown a worryingly high risk, and had a reported 22% bigger chance of causing type 2 diabetes. If the simple numbers are taken into consideration, it means that secondhand smoking is more likely to lead to the unfortunate condition than actually indulging in a cigarette every now and then.
Researchers delved a bit deeper and found that 11.7% of type 2 diabetes cases in men were attributed to smoking, while the same consequences fell on 2.4% of women. Even for those who quit their habit, the risk was still there when compared to non-smokers.
The increased risk was of 14% for people who had quit smoking, that rises within the next 5 years to a disturbing 54% after, though possibly due to the habitual indulging in unhealthy eating habits in order to replace the vice. However, the numbers fall back down in the next 5 years after that to 18%, and then to 10% within the next 10 years.
The study presents yet another reason to quit smoking, as it will not only harm your health as a smoker in the long run, but also pose as dangerous risk for passive smokers who are frequently in your presence.
Image source: kerrygaynormethod.com
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